Investec Derby tips: Guide to all the runners in the big race at Epsom

Made an encouraging debut when third on the all-weather at Kempton last November and justified strong market confidence with an impressive all-the-way win at Windsor on his seasonal reappearance. Pushed subsequent French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby all the way in the Dante Stakes at York, an excellent effort for one so inexperienced, and he demands plenty of respect for his dual Derby-winning trainer.7

AUSTRALIA (Aidan O’Brien)

As a son of 2001 Derby winner Galileo and 2004 Oaks heroine Ouija Board, Australia is certainly bred to excel on the Downs and trainer Aidan O’Brien has done little to dampen the hype since his brilliant display at Leopardstown last September. He proved himself a top-level performer when a close third in what is turning out to be a strong renewal of the 2000 Guineas, but while he is undoubtedly the one to beat, there is little juice in his price considering there are plenty of horses with untapped potential taking him on. 9

EBANORAN (John Oxx)

Earned his tilt at Derby glory in the usually-informative Derrrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, where he passed the post marginally in front of Fascinating Rock, only to lose the race in the stewards’ room. With the pair locking horns again, there is unlikely to be a great deal between them, but Fascinating Rock is narrowly preferred. 6

FASCINATING ROCK (Dermot Weld)

Won his maiden at Leopardstown and the Ballysax Stakes at Navan prior to his Derrinstown ‘victory’ and the Ballysax-Derrinstown route has proved a breeding ground of champions in the past. The one major question mark hanging over him is stamina, but he is a horse with a telling turn of foot and if he does get home over the mile and a half, there is every chance he will be in the shake-up for a trainer who can do no wrong this season. 8

GEOFFREY CHAUCER (Aidan O’Brien)

This son of Montjeu has looked a potential Epsom candidate ever since winning his maiden at Leopardstown last summer and an impressive display in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in September confirmed his abundant promise. He made his reappearance in the Derrinstown, running a massive race to finish third, and may well have challenged the front two even more but for suffering trouble in running. While he lacks the sex appeal of his stable companion Australia, Geoffrey Chaucer rates a huge danger in the hands of Ryan Moore and it would not be the first time the Ballydoyle team have taken the Derby with an apparent second string. 10

IMPULSIVE MOMENT (Andrew Balding)

Stepped up massively on a Lingfield novice victory when filling the runner-up spot behind fellow Derby hope Western Hymn in Sandown’s Classic Trial, but it is hard to see him turning the tables on that rival, let alone beating the principals. 3

KINGFISHER (Aidan O’Brien)

Another member of the Ballydoyle brigade and not a complete no-hoper given he won an admittedly moderate renewal of Chester’s Dee Stakes. However, if one of the O’Brien quartet are to go forward and make the running, Kingfisher looks the most likely candidate and for that reason he is likely to end up being a sitting duck. 4

KINGSTON HILL (Roger Varian)

Within the space of little over a month last season, Kingston Hill made a winning debut at Newbury, claimed the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and completed his hat-trick in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. While he was always viewed as more of a Derby contender than a 2000 Guineas candidate, it was still slightly disappointing to see him beaten so comprehensively at Newmarket. That said, he impressed work-watchers when traversing the Epsom cambers recently and he has been backed accordingly. Respected. 8

ORCHESTRA (Aidan O’Brien)

Showed plenty of guts and determination to make a winning three-year-old debut in the Chester Vase, despite looking green, and O’Brien’s Ruler Of The World followed the same path on his way to victory at Epsom last year. However, the perception is he perhaps lacks a gear on a sounder surface and unless the heavens open and the ground comes up testing, minor honours may be the best he can hope for. 6

OUR CHANNEL (William Haggas)

Was determined and brave in holding the fast-finishing Marzocco in the Epsom Derby Trial in April and he is open to improvement despite his trainer harbouring serious stamina doubts. Connections have secured the services of Silvestre de Sousa and he could outrun his massive odds, but it would be a big surprise if he is good enough to trouble the main protagonists. 4

PINZOLO (Charlie Appleby)

Struggled on his final juvenile start in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last October but has kicked off his three-year-old campaign in good style with two good efforts at Newmarket, most recently clinching the Listed Fairway Stakes. He has won on soft and good to firm ground so looks versatile with regards to conditions underfoot, but he is another who needs to raise his game big time to make his presence felt at the top-level. 5

RED GALILEO (Ed Dunlop)

Well-beaten behind Western Hymn in the Classic Trial at Sandown and Snow Sky in the Lingfield Derby Trial last time out. Further evidence of top apprentice Oisin Murphy’s growing reputation that he has been booked for the ride, but even his considerable talents are unlikely to help this colt get into the frame. 2

ROMSDAL (John Gosden)

Beaten by just a nose by Orchestra in the Chester Vase and connections have stumped up £75,000 to supplement him for the premier Classic. He has clearly come out of that race in good nick and while William Buick prefers Western Hymn, champion jockey Richard Hughes is a more than capable replacement in the saddle. More improvement expected and he could be one for the each-way players. 6

SUDDEN WONDER (Charlie Appleby)

Won a valuable sales race over a mile-and-a-quarter at Newmarket before his decent effort behind Snow Sky, who was forced to miss this through a late setback, in the Lingfield Derby Trial. There are worse each-way shots at around 66-1. 5

TRUE STORY (Saeed bin Suroor)

Beaten at cramped odds in the Dante, although the aforementioned subsequent exploits of the winner suggest that was not as disappointing an effort as it first appeared. He was a brilliant winner of Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes on his penultimate start and with Epsom specialist Kieren Fallon in the saddle he is impossible to rule out, although any further rain would hamper his chances. 7

WESTERN HYMN (John Gosden)

The only unbeaten colt in the field after completing his hat-trick at Sandown. All appeared to go smoothly during a routine piece of work on the track last week. He has a tendency to wander around at the end of his races, which is a potential concern, but he clearly has an engine and will have his supporters. 6

VERDICT: Barring unforeseen circumstances, it seems almost certain Australia will be in the shake-up. He has proved his ability to mix it at the very highest level, Aidan O’Brien believes he is the best Flat horse he has ever trained and if he is bred to win any race, this is it. However, he still needs to prove he stays, having not yet raced beyond a mile, and any value in his price is long gone. Without achieving the same level of form on the track, Geoffrey Chaucer has left the impression he will come into his own over this sort of trip and ran a blinder in the Derrinstown given he was conceding race fitness to the front two. With the benefit of that run, he is fancied to turn the tables on Ebanoran and Fascinating Rock and he might just get the better of his more illustrious stable companion late on. Fascinating Rock is taken to edge out Kingston Hill for third to make it a clean-sweep for the Irish.